Improving the SMEs Access to Trade Finance DRAFT
in the OIC Member States
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same core issues, with obvious differences in degree and emphasis in countries and regions
where extreme circumstances prevail. Even in such circumstances however, it is notable that
there is an awareness of the international nature of trade finance and cross-border
partnerships.
Azizi Bank, based in Afghanistan, was represented at a major international banking conference
recently (Sibos 2013, Dubai), and seeks to grow its network of partner banks, explicitly
indicating a trade finance capability headed by the Chief Credit Officer of the bank, even as the
institution builds out its core banking offerings and national branch network under the most
difficult of circumstances (Source: Azizi Bank).
The challenges around SME access to trade finance may be universal across a wide range of
markets, but the need for access to more trade finance among SMEs in particular, is also
common among jurisdictions, even when SMEs make up the majority of commercial ventures
in a given jurisdiction, country or region.
3.2. Current State Highlights
Table 5: OIC Member States
Source: Trade Outlook 2013, COMCEC
Given the geographic scope and the number of OIC Member States, and the fairly consistent
nature of challenges and issues around trade finance, including trade finance needs and issues
related to SMEs, it has been deemed appropriate to consider the issues related to OIC Member